Now there's a television show poking fun at why the West is wild

The funniest character in the ABC short series KGB isn’t the detectives at the heart of the story, or the hapless cannabis grower they’re trying to exonerate (more on that later).

Rather, it’s the KGB itself – not the Russian secret police – but an acronym many Perth locals would recognise as the three suburbs of Koondoola, Girrawheen and Balga.

The cast of KGB, set in Perth's northern suburbs of Koondoola, Girrawheen and Balga. Credit:Jessica Wyld

For writers and directors Dan and Luke Riches, who spent their early years living in Koondoola after moving from Indigenous community One Arm Point in WA’s Kimberley, it was inevitable the notoriously wild northern Perth suburbs would take a starring role in the series.

But while meth lab explosions, violent pre-teens and rampant drug-dealing form the basis of the comedy series, there’s also a warmth and affection for a part of Perth which too often finds itself in news headlines.

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"We know that even though there might be some chaos and bad reputation in some areas, we know that there’s still a lot of good people and a sense of community there as well," Luke says.

The brothers are now based in Ferndale, having followed a burgeoning media career east.

While the script idea had been kicking around for a while, it wasn’t until Luke and Dan secured support through an initiative by ScreenWest that the five-part series took shape.

KGB follows two recently promoted Indigenous detectives Jack and Nigel as they try and solve the case of a major meth lab explosion in Perth’s east.

The plot rapidly thickens and their plans unravel as their leads take them to Jack’s weed-growing cousin, who detectives mistakenly believe played a role in the lab explosion, while further investigations reveal more family members living on the wrong side of the law.

Tackling Indigenous and non-Indigenous stereotypes is front and centre of the show.

It’s been a compliment to us that people have people have been saying this is going to do a good job of breaking down some barriers

The brothers admitted satire was among their favourite types of comedy, evident from the opening scenes of the first episode, where a white robbery victim is asked to pick out a suspect, awkwardly trying to tell one of the lead detectives it was the only Indigenous person in the police line-up.

"Well, I didn’t actually get a glimpse of anyone," she says. "But he’s probably the fastest one here."

That story is one ripped from the brothers’ own experience, when their dad ran down the street to help a woman who had her house broken into.

"She was trying to explain to dad that it was definitely Indigenous kids that did it," Dan says.

"She didn’t see them, but she knew they were Indigenous because they were fast."

It’s one of many stories drawn from the KGB community that found its way into the series, covered with tongue firmly in cheek and plenty of belly laughs.

"I think comedy has a power and it has the ability to break down those stereotypes and just have a laugh at a few things," Luke says.

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"If you look at Perth, or Australia right now, there’s not good relations between the Aboriginal community and the police.

"So we were able to put two Indigenous young men into the role of police officer and subsequently detectives, and we put them in situations where they’re having to choose between family loyalty and their sense of duty.

"And something we wanted to just be real about making fun of those stereotypes. We poke fun at the police, we poke fun at community members, and also different characters that you’ll find almost in any community.

"It’s been a compliment to us that people have people have been saying this is going to do a good job of breaking down some barriers."

KGB’s success is helped along by an all-star cast of Australian talent, including acclaimed actors Clarence Ryan, Bjorn Stewart, Genevieve Morris and Mark Coles Smith.

Ningali Lawford also makes a cameo in the first episode, a happy coincidence after she ran into another actor – Aaron McGrath – at a hotel the day before the shoot and got chatting.

The series debuted on Sunday, July 7, premiering on ABC Comedy and streaming on iView during NAIDOC Week. Already, the brothers have their eyes set on the future.

There’s talk of a screening at CinefestOz in Busselton, as well as plans to nominate for several awards, and hopes for a subsequent season, possibly in a format longer than six-minute shorts.

"We’re just hoping that it does really well, and we can start having some conversations with the ABC to see if there’s an appetite to continue it," Luke says.